Transfer apparatus for loading conveyers



IJam. l0, 1950 J. R. FREDERICK TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR LOADING CONVEYERSFiled sept. 1:5, 1947 3 sheets-sheet 1 JEAN ROBERT FREDERICK Jan. l0,1950 J. R. RDERICK 2,493,807

TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR LOADING CONVEYERS Filed Sept. 13, 1947 v 3Sheets-Sheet 2 f -Fi 9 JEAN RQBERT FREDERICK Jan. l0, 1950 J. R.F'Rlalznsmcl K2,493,807

TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR LoAnmG commas Filed segst. 13. l1947 ssheets-sheet s JEAN ROBERT FREDElcK Patented Jan. 1Q, 1950 TRANSFERAPPARATUS FOR LOADING CONVEYERS Jean R. Frederick, Conneaut, OhioApplication September 13, 1947, Serial No. 773,857

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the general art of mezchanical conveyors andmore particularly to irnproved apparatus ior transferring individual ob-`jects from a production line or a point of production activity onto acontinuously moving con.v

veyor whereby thevobjects may be expeditiously handled and transportedfor subsequent processing. Systems of this general nature have wideapplicability in manufacturing establishments wherein it is essentialthat articles being pro-` duced or processed be moved through portionsof the plant in an orderly and expeditious manner. Thus, conveyorloading systems are useful in taking articles from spray booths andloading 'them automatically onto a continuous overheadl lconveyor fortransportation through a drying oven or between batteries of infra-reddrying A-lamps and while the present invention is particularly wellsuited for this purpose it should be understood as the descriptionproceeds that the features of the invention are equally applicable ntoother specific uses.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an automaticarticle transferring assembly which is operative to load a continuousyconveyor with a multiplicity of separate articles v,in a careful,expeditious and substantially automatic manner. In the latter regard amore specic object of the invention is the provision of an improvedloading arrangement for a continuously moving article conveyor whichelimi- Ynatesentirely the need for any attendant to load Vthe articlesonto the conveyor. This enables a A.manufacturing operator to initiatean automatic 4sequence of transportive movements of articles 'beingmanufactured immediately upon comple- Ytion of his work on the articles.For example, in a painting department an operator may initiate Vsuchautomatic sequence of transport-,ive movevment to articles being coatedthat such articles will automatically be transported to and through .adrying device in a continuous and uninter- 2 longitudinal conveyor froma laterally disposed feeding conveyor.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed specification andthe accompanying drawing wherein there is disclosed a preferredembodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a portion of a painting departmentof a manufacturing plant constructed in accordance with the principlesof the invention;

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are schematic showings of elevations which appearalong the lines II-II, IIL-III, IV-IV, and V-V, respectively, of Figure1;

Figure 6'is a perspective view of an articlecarrying tray which may beemployed in the assembly of Figure 1;

Figures 7 and 8 are detailed elevation and plan views, respectively, ofa mounting ferrule which may be employed for the tray of Figure 6;

Figures 9 and 10 are elevation and sectional views, respectively, of amovable tray-supporting e pedestal employed in the assembly of Figure 1;

Figures 11 and 12 are schematic plan and elevation views, respectively,of a roller conveyor assembly utilized in the system of Figure 1 tomovably support pedestals constructedv according to the showing ofFigures 9 and 10;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a tray holder which depends from thecontinuous overhead conveyor of Figures 1 and 2; and

Figures 14 and 15 are detailed side and sectional views, respectively,of a portion of the voverhead conveyor of the assembly of Figures l and2. Y

In Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 the reference numeral I0 designates a spraybooth of which there may be a substantial number in any particular plantinstallation. By way of illustration I have selected four such boothsarranged in line and separated into two groups of two booths each.Extending longitudinally in back of the booths I0 is an overheadconveyor` designated generally by reference numeral II and consisting ofa suspended monorail I2 along which travels a plurality of spacedtrolleys I3 (see Figures 14 and 15) for movably suspending a rollerchain I4 and it will be understood that at curves or corners of theconveyor system suitable driving and idling sprockets, not shown, willbe provided in accordance with usual practice to insure 1- the chain I4travelling under the rail I2 at all plane of the legs I6 and I1 and areupturned at= Further, the rods I8 and 20 lie in a common horizontalplanetheir ends on one side of this plane.

while the rods I9 and 2| lie in a common lower horizontal plane for thesupportof a pair of superimposed objects or article-carrying trays to behereinafter more fully described. As shown Yin Figures 2, 5, 14 and 15the carriers I5 are mounted on the conveyor in such orientation that theplaneof the two legs I6 and I1 in coincident Vwith the direction ofmovement ofthe carriers.

Extending transversely through the fore part of each booth I is a rollerconveyor22 which slopes downwardly toward the `Space between thetwobooths of each pair. At .this point the two roller conveyors 22Vmerge into a right angularly disposed roller conveyor 23 which extendslateral- 1y under the overhead conveyor II while sloping downwardlytoward a4 position below the over-- head conveyor. Discharging onto theouter end of each. ofthe transverse conveyors 22 is a forwardlyextending roller conveyor 24 which slopes downwardly toward theconveyors 22 and it is the purpose of these-conveyors`24 to supply ob-l-'jects' Aor trays'oflarticlestoibe paint sprayed in the booths I!! bythe spray operators shown at 25 finthedrawingi Such` objects. and/ ortrays as well as the immediate carriers for the objects or trays may beprepared by operatorsZIi who vposi- -tiontheassemblies on. the forwardends of the roller conveyors 24.' One Vsuch assembly will now Y bedescribed in detail.

In the illustrated embodiment rvof the inven Vtion* the system is set upto handlesmall objects as phonograph tone arms, not shown, and in orderto handle these small'objectsin groups, I provide a multiplicity ofstamped metal trays each having a flat base portion 21'and amultiplicity of upstandingflugs 28 andinnpractice each of the arms to bepaintedare supported onaV spaced pair of .the lugs 28.v Rigidly securedtothe geometric 'center of ythe Vvplate 21V andzextending therebelow isa ferrule 29havingx'a bore'l across which extends a pin 3 I. Y

I also provide inthe system of Ymy invention a multiplicity of movablesupports for the trays 21 each consisting of a flat square base plate 32having a center aperture 33 and overlaid in its center portion with adisc 34 having an'apertureV registering-with the aperture 33. Secured toYand extending upwardly from the disc 34 is a tube 35 having an internal'shoulder at its upper end to retain'a coil spring ,35. Slidably mounted.in the L.uimerend lofzthe tube 35 is a plunger 31 having a slottedupper end38 which is arranged to be received in the bore 3Q of theVferrule 29 with the pin 3l received in the slot 38.

Thus it is obvious that while the trays 31 may be readily applied to andremoved from the plungers 31 the trays are effectively held againstrotation .on the plungers 31. by reason of the interlocking pins 3l andthe slots 38. The lower ends of theplungers 31 are enlarged at V3S toprovide abutments for thelower end of springs 3B where- 4 by theplungers 31 are spring-biased in a downward direction. The lower ends ofthe enlargements 39 are concaved transversely to cooperate with thetransversely convexed upper ends of plungers 40 which are slidablyreceived in the lower portions of the tubes 35. ers 43 are generallycircular in cross-section they each have a attened surface 4I whichco-acts with a flat wallv portionof the aperture in the disc 34 Vwherebythe plungers 43 are eiectively restrained from rotation in the tubes 35.Also, each of the plungers 40 has a notch in the lower portion of itsside wall for receiving an edge of a lever 42 hinged on the disc 34, itbeing understood that the tube is suitably slotted in its side wall toallow entry of a portion of the lever 42. By referring to Figure 10 itwill be clear that when the lever 42 is in engagement with the slot inplunger 4I) the plunger will be locked in upper position and heldagainst rotation whereby the plunger 31 (and thetrayVcarried'therebyfwill be biased. toeitherone of twofor-iented positionsspaced 180 apart Abecause of theco-act ing transverse vconvex concaveends .of theY plungers= and 31, respectively;y If nowvthelever 421s-rotated to clear plunger 40"thevflatter'aswellas the plunger 31'will beforced vdown rapidlygby the spring 35 until the shoulder at the upperend of dat surface 4I engages disc 34s The function of this mode ofoperation will beexplai-ned below. rhe movable supports comprising theatplates 32 which carry thetrays of articles'being processed move downthe conveyors 22 and ontothe outer 'ends of the right angularlydisposed' coni veyors 23 and to assistinthetransfer I-provide va'counterweighted and pivotedA bridge 43 -having a smooth curved .uppersurfacefto slidably support portions of theV p1ates-32 as-thesefplatesprogress from the .conveyors 22 onto the outer ends of the conveyors-23.Immediately Vupontl-ie plates being sopositioned the `bridge A31-tilts,as suggested in Figure 12 to allow the plate Orplates 32 to roll downtherconveyor orconveyors 23; As explained above, the conveyors 23 extendtransversely under the line of movement-of thexcarriers I5 andtosynchronize movementof the tray supports at the lower ends of theconveyors 23 with the carriers I5 *whereby thetrays. 21 mounted on the.movablesupports will be automatically depositedon the carriers I5 Iprovide the mechanism now to be described.

As shown in Figures 1, 14 and 15 a vsprocket 44 in Ymesh with the chainI4 ris`..,positio'ned iinmediately ahead of each ofV the conveyors.23.and

extending around each sprocket 44 iis a bracket 45 on which is'pivoted abell'crank lever 46 Larranged to be tilted in one direction .(counter.-clockwise in Figure 15) periodically byacam 41 carried by Ysprocket 44.A springA'V biases the lever 46 in the opposite direction. Pivotallyconnected to the outer leg'of the lever 46"and depending therefrom is astrap 48 Vwhichr is pivotally connected at its Y'lower endjto vone 'of apair of cams 43fwhich are positionedl on opposite sides of the conveyor23 andrigidlyinterconnected by a shaft 5I).v An overhanginglatch 5Ihaving a cam lfollower 52 is'pivotally mounted 'on each side of theconveyor 23 and'by referring toFigures 14 and 15 it will Abe apparentthat upon-down'- ward movement of theV strap'28 and rotation' of thecams 4S and the`latches^5l will ybe `-raised to release a plate 32 ofone of themovabl-supports the movement of'which had previously beenarrested'by the -bights of the latches 5I. In assembling the plant thenumber oflinks'in-chain While the plung-v I4 between successive carriersI5 is so related to the number of teeth in each of the sprockets 44 thatat each tripping of the latches 5I one of .the carriers I5 will besubstantially aligned with -each of the conveyors 23 so that uponresump- 4tion of movement of the movable tray-carrying -supports on theconveyors 23 the trays on the supports will move onto one or the otherof the 'two pairs of rods I8-2I of the carriers I5. It 'should be notedthat the upturned far ends of 'the rods I8-2I will arrest continuedmovement -.of the trays transversely of the vertical plane of theprincipal overhead conveyor. As this jrelative position of the trays isreached an arm 53 overhanging each of the conveyors 23 behind thelatches 5I will engage the levers 42 of the jsupports moving down theconveyors 23 to rotate the levers 42 out of the notches in the plungers4I to allow the plungers 31 to snap downwardly free and clear of thetrays 21 whereby the latter are automaticallyA deposited on the carriersI5. Figure 5 shows the relative positions of the parts when a tray 2l isaboutto be loaded onto one of the carriers I5.

It will be obvious that the article-carrying trays may be loaded eitheronto the upper pairs of rods I8, 2U or the lower pairs of rods I9, 2| ofthe carriers I5. This double arrangement is yprovided in order toincrease the load-carrying capacity of the principal conveyor II and byreferring to Figure 2 it will be observed that suitable arrangement ismade for loading the trays from one of the conveyors 23 onto the upperof the rods of each carrier I5 while the trays coming from the other ofthe conveyors 23 is loaded onto the lower rods of the carriers I5. Thiseffective arrangement may be accomplished either by varying theelevations of the conveyors 23 or by stepping up the level of theconveyor I5 as illustrated in Figure 2.

After the movable supports comprised of the plates 32 and plungers 31have been relieved of their trays by the carriers I5 these supports maybe diverted onto lower return roller conveyors 54 by chutes 55. As shownin Figure 5, the conveyors 54 slope downwardly to the working area ofthe operators 26 who re-set the movable supports by moving the plungers33 upwardly and re-set levers 42 after which the Supports may bepositioned on the conveyors 24 with article-loaded trays mountedthereon. The assemblies thus completed are then transferred to theoperators who spray the articles or perform other operations thereon andit will be understood that the provisions made for allowing the traysand plungers 3l to be rotated is particularly advantageous in theseoperations. Further, the interlocking curved surfaces of the members 39and 40 insure that the trays will always be properly oriented forreception in the carriers I5 as the carriers are approached.

It should now be apparent that I have provided an improved mechanicalconveyor system which accomplishes the objects initially set out. By theuse of the invention it is possible with a minimum number of operatorsto process in continuous production lines large quantities of separatearticles and to thereafter load the articles onto an efiicient andcontinuously moving conveyor in a substantially automatic manner wherebyfurther economies are effected in the operations of a plant. It shouldbe understood, however, that the above specifically described embodimentof the invention is illustrative only as obviously many changes may bemade therein vwithout departing from .the spirit or scope of the.whereby the trays mounted on said supports may be automaticallytransferred to said carriers, and means to automatically release saidsupports from said trays upon said trays being positioned in saidcarriers.

2. Apparatus according to claim 4 further characterized in that saidcarriers each comprises means t0 support said trays on either of twovertically spaced levels, a second cross-conveyor spaced from said rstmentioned cross-conveyor, and means to vary the elevation of saidcarriers with respect to the respective cross-conveyors whereby thetrays coming from one cross-conveyor will be loaded on one level of thecarriers while the trays coming from the other of the cross-conveyorswill be loadedonto the other level of said carriers.

3. Apparatus according to claim 4 further including a return conveyorpositioned below said cross-conveyor, and means to automaticallytransfer said portable tray supports from said cross-conveyor to saidreturn conveyor after the tray on said support has been transferred toone of said carriers.

4. In an article-conveying system for a plant installation having aplurality of article-processing stations arranged in alignedside-by-side relation, an overhead continuous conveyor having spaceddepending carriers extending parallel across the rear of said stations,a roller conveyor extending laterally across each of said stations,cross-roller conveyors connecting with the discharge ends of said rstmentioned roller conveyors and extending to positions below saidoverhead conveyor, and portable supporting means movable on said rollerconveyors and being operative to transfer articles from said stationsonto said carriers.

5. In combination with a conveyor arranged for continuous operation andhaving a plurality of spaced tray-receiving carriers, a conveyorextending crosswise of said first mentioned conveyor, means on saidcross-conveyor to movably support article-holding trays to betransferred to said carriers, and means to automatically correlate thepositions of said carriers with respect to the positions of saidsupports as the latter approach the path of movement of said carrierswhereby said trays may be automatically transferred from said supportsto said carriers, said cross-conveyor comprising a roller conveyor andsaid supports each comprising a at plate transportable on said rollerconveyor and having an upwardly projecting but centrally disposed memberfor removably supporting an article-loaded tray.

6. A conveyor system comprising an overhead rail, spaced wheeled dolliesmounted on said rail, a continuous link chain supported in dependingrelation by said dollies with the hinge pins of said chains extendingvertically, a plurality of spaced `Icarrierssuspended from the bottomedge of said Vchain, a cross-conveyor extending transversely :.belowthepath of movement of said carriers, and.

means to automatically transfer article-'carrying trays supported on andmoving along said crossvconveyor onto said carriers in succession; saidmeans to transfer comprising a portable support for each of said trayson said cross-conveyor, a

-stop to arrest the movement .of said supports at a -predeterminedposition on said cross-conveyor,

and a sprocket in meslrwith said chain and mounting a cam operative toretract said stop whereby one of said Vtray-.carrying supports willpassA under each ofi-said carriers as said carriers move. insuccessionacross said cross-conveyor.

7. A conveyor system comprising an overhead rail, spaced wheeled dolliesmounted on said rail, a continuous link chain supportedin dependingrelation by said dollies with the hinge pins of vsaidchains extendingvertically, a plurality ofspaced carriers suspended from the bottom edgeof said chain, a cross-conveyor extending transversely below the path ofmovement of said carriers, and means to automatically transferarticlecarrying trays supported on and moving along said cross-conveyoronto said carriers in succes-V sion; said-means to'transfer comprising aplurality ofportable supports movable on said crossconveyor andeachhaving a centrally disposed upstanding member adapted to havesocketed interengagement with one of said trays, each of said carriershaving a plurality of spaced trayreceiving rods extending horizontallyand gen--v erally Yparallel with the longitudinal axis of saidCIOSSnOOnVByOY.

Adownward direction.

'8; A `portable tray-supportingV devicefor use on a roller conveyorcomprisingabase/member having a flat lower surface, a tubular membersecured to and projecting upwardly from'said base member, aA plungerslidably and rotatablyY received in said tubular member and having anupper end adapted to have socketed interengagement with anarticle-supporting tray, a second plunger in said tubular member belowsaid rst mentioned plunger andv slideably mounted infsaid tubularmember, means to restrain rotation of saidV second plunger in saidtubular member, releasable means to retain second plunger in an upperVposition in said tubular member, said plungers having mutual end contactwith the contiguous ends formed transversely in such manner that saidfirst mentioned plunger isV biased Vto predetermined rotationalpositions, and spring means biasing said rst mentioned plunger in JEANIR. FREDERICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inl-the le rofthis patent;

